If I were a salesperson, my family would starve to death. I don't like asking people for anything, especially money. It makes me uncomfortable, and I just refuse to do it.

For example, at the recent CROP walk, I signed up to walk on my church's team. On the day of the event, they asked if I brought my pledges. "Uh, no, but I brought my checkbook -- how's $50?"

Monica Lewis (who also writes for Her Times magazine) had a humorous column about fundraising in the newspaper yesterday.

As the mother of a Kindergartner who just came home with her first candle order form and sales sheet, I could relate to Monica's disdain for school fundraisers. I groaned when I saw that fundraising form in my 6-year-old's backpack. I knew I couldn't do it. I wouldn't do it.

God knows my friends, family and co-workers owe me. I've bought more than my share of overpriced stuff from all the kids in the neighborhood and all my nieces and nephews and the kids of friends at work because, well, because I feel like I have to and/or should. If I had all the money I've spent on overpriced, stale chocolate-covered pretzels, chinzy giftwrap and plastic knick-knacks, I could take the whole Erie School District to Splash Lagoon.

So, now it's my turn to do the selling, and I just don't have it in me. Much as I hate to take money out of the weekly family budget, I hate asking people for money more. I'll happily buy generic crackers and sacrifice a dinner out if it means I don't have to strong-arm people into buying something they really don't want.

If, when my kids get older, they want to peddle their own merchandise and handle the money -- fine -- but for now, I'll just write the PTO a check and buy my way out of begging.